"Ma'am," the blonde said in return with a nod to the woman the child had just returned from. While it wasn't completely rude, she did eye the woman with suspicion. She hadn't met her before, but the child seemed familiar enough. Or perhaps he'd been enamored by the trick that had just been performed. It wasn't her specialty, but she knew the time. Those with fast hands. Some kids were desperate from distraction, anything to keep them from the reality of their situation. She was thankful to the woman for that, but otherwise didn't trust her in the least.
Even now the children were starting to squabble about who should get a coin next. "Shhh, now. Don't go bothering strangers," she said ushering them off back in the opposite direction. Some of them looked a little confused, while others helped to usher the group back toward the building. "Let Rosa know she can't skip another lesson or I'm going to drop her from the class," she called after them. She wouldn't actually, but the girl had missed two before all the crazy had happened. The girl had been so enthusiastic before, but now it was like she was regressing into a tight bud instead of a bright bloom.
"Sorry," she said apologizing to the other woman. "Children are curious creatures."